The City of Windsor Council has now completed its line item review of the 2010 Budget. As a result the City will consider some of the largest administrative budget cuts in a long time. 

Starting with a goal to find $16 million in savings from the various departments, the City of Windsor is on target to reduce its need for additional tax dollars to cover a rising municipal budget. Instead, the current projections will reduce overall tax rate, benefiting all taxpayers.

The Chamber is closely monitoring how these savings will impact the business classes as the assessment growth remains mixed for various businesses. The Chamber will also be active in Budget deliberations that will determine the City's tax policies. Ratification of the Budget is scheduled for March 2010. 

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) presented its 2010 pre-budget submission to the provincial Standing Committee on Economic Affairs and Finance on Feb 2. 

The OCC identified the province’s fiscal situation as a significant impediment to Ontario’s prosperity. Although the estimated $24.7 billion deficit is partly due to the current economic climate and economic stimulus measures, Ontario has long been spending beyond its means. 

Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce contributed to the Ontario Chamber's policy process by submitting the results of an Ontario Pre-Budget Round Table in October 2010.

The Michigan Department of Transportation  (MDOT) and Transport Canada  have issued a request for proposals from firms with experience in infrastructure projects related to the new international border crossing between Detroit and Windsor.

MDOT and Transport Canada recently released a Request for Proposal of Interest (RFPI) to individual firms or teams with experience in developing and/or financing large transportation infrastructure projects either in North America or internationally, and that are interested in the development of the Detroit River International Crossing project under one or more public-private partnerships.

The deadline for individual firms or teams to submit a response is March 17, 2010 at 3 p.m. 

On February 5, 2010, the governments of Canada and the United States reached a productive and forward-looking agreement on Buy American provisions.

“This represents an important step forward in our continued engagement with our largest trading partner,” said Perrin Beatty, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. 

The Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce has supported the lobby efforts to change the way the American law is applied to Canadian businesses. 

To learn more about the Chamber's advocacy on the 'Buy American' provisions visit our website at www.windsorchamber.org.